The Power of Star Anise.

 What is star anise? It's one of the many spices I keep here in this old house. I find it in supermarkets that have racks of clear cellophane bags with loose herbs & spices at the end of their aisles. You can find unusual spices reasonably priced.

It has many health benefits and one that helps during flu season.

It grows on a tree in Viet Nam & China & is the dried fruit from the Asian evergreen tree (Illicium verum.

It's one of the 5 spices used in Chinese cooking that includes cinnamon, fennel, peppercorns, and cloves. I'm steaming steel cut oats in the rice cooker and I can already smell the pungent licorice like flavor aroma wafting in the rooms.

The Five Chinse Spices

A household staple that I always keep in a jar with many other medicinal spices like turmeric rhizomes, ginger, cumin, coriander, etc.

It can inhibit yeast infections like candida and thrush. It has shikimic acid, and the star anise oil contains thymol, terpineol, and anethole, compounds that can alleviate symptoms of the common flu.

Star anise can also treat other respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, inflammation of the lungs, and respiratory tract infections Good to make tea with in winter.

It aids digestion and relieves stomach aches. The spice also helps in combating gas, bloating, abdominal cramps, indigestion, and constipation. Star anise tea can also help the gastrointestinal tract drain mucus caused by a cold, preventing stomach aches.

It's a rich source of A & C. It aids in better sleep. Anethole, a compound in star anise, may have a mild sedative effect that aids sleep. Additionally, sipping a hot cup of star anise tea before bed soothes the mind and reduces anxiety, allowing for rejuvenating slumber.

Star anise is rich in calcium, an element imperative to healthy bone growth and maintenance. Calcium strengthens bones, which reduces pressure and alleviates pain. It also prevents arthritis and osteoporosis. In addition to promoting bone growth and maintenance, calcium is also highly beneficial to heart and muscle health. The mineral is also responsible for regulating muscle contraction. Keeping up your calcium stores is vital because, if your body is deprived of sufficient calcium, it will draw it from your bones.

Anethole, the organic compound that gives star anise its licorice flavor, is an antimicrobial agent effective against bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Bacterial infections can include ailments such as ear infections, E. coli, and urinary tract infections, all of which anethole may counteract. One scientific study concluded star anise showed substantial antibacterial activity against 67 drug-resistant strains of bacteria.

Oxidation is one whereby uncharged molecules -- free radicals -- are released, causing damage to the body's cells. This process is now known to contribute to aging, cancer, and other harmful diseases. However, consuming food and spices with naturally occurring antioxidants slows this process and stops the free radicals from damaging the cells. Star anise contains such antioxidants, contributing to healthy skin, bones, and organs, and reducing the risk of cancer and other diseases.

Star anise may firm up and energize the skin, resulting in a youthful glow and fewer blemishes. The star-shaped pods contain collagen, a protein naturally occurring in muscles, bones, the digestive system, and tendons. Collagen keeps skin firm and wrinkle-free, but as we age, our body produces less and less. Consuming foods containing collagen may help slow the aging process, keeping skin tighter and more youthful.